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Magnetic domain walls as reconfigurable spin-wave nanochannels

Nature Nanotechnology volume 11, pages 432–436 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

In the research field of magnonics1,2,3,4,5,6,7, it is envisaged that spin waves will be used as information carriers, promoting operation based on their wave properties. However, the field still faces major challenges. To become fully competitive, novel schemes for energy-efficient control of spin-wave propagation in two dimensions have to be realized on much smaller length scales than used before. In this Letter, we address these challenges with the experimental realization of a novel approach to guide spin waves in reconfigurable, nano-sized magnonic waveguides. For this purpose, we make use of two inherent characteristics of magnetism: the non-volatility of magnetic remanence states and the nanometre dimensions of domain walls formed within these magnetic configurations. We present the experimental observation and micromagnetic simulations of spin-wave propagation inside nano-sized domain walls and realize a first step towards a reconfigurable domain-wall-based magnonic nanocircuitry.

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Figure 1: Channelling principle, sample geometry and magnetization configuration.
Figure 2: Excitation spectra and spin-wave mode profiles.
Figure 3: Magnetization, effective magnetic field, spin-wave modes and dispersion.
Figure 4: Spin-wave localization.
Figure 5: Steering spin waves with small fields.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge financial support from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft within programme SCHU 2922/1-1. K.S. acknowledges funding from the Helmholtz Postdoc Programme. A.K. thanks C.M. Schneider for providing the computational resources.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden–Rossendorf, Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, Dresden, 01328, Germany

    K. Wagner, A. Kákay, K. Schultheiss, A. Henschke, T. Sebastian & H. Schultheiss

  2. Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, D-01062, Germany

    K. Wagner & H. Schultheiss

Authors
  1. K. Wagner
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  2. A. Kákay
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  6. H. Schultheiss
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Contributions

K.W., T.S., A.H. and H.S. designed the experiment. K.W. and T.S. prepared the samples. K.W. performed the BLS microscopy measurements and analysed the experimental data. K.W. and A.K. performed and evaluated the micromagnetic simulations. All authors interpreted and discussed the results and co-wrote the manuscript.

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Correspondence to H. Schultheiss.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Wagner, K., Kákay, A., Schultheiss, K. et al. Magnetic domain walls as reconfigurable spin-wave nanochannels. Nature Nanotech 11, 432–436 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2015.339

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